In recent years, Cloud data storage turned out from not very suitable for personal use and expensive method of storing information in a completely accessible and efficient tool for solving such problems. So now even the ordinary computer user should be interested in the answer to the question "What is the Cloud data storage?".

Apart from a few obvious advantages such as "all of your data will always be with you," Cloud data storage has a number of drawbacks and problems. This article will allow you to learn something new about effective use of modern IT-technology, to which cloud storage undoubtedly belongs.

What is it?

Cloud data storage - a model of online storage, in which data is stored on multiple servers distributed in the network. The data is stored and processed in a so-called “Cloud” that is, from the viewpoint of the customer, one large virtual server.

To tell simpler, there is a resource that provides all people with some space on their servers. It turns out that this is like a big virtual USB drive or hard drive, but located somewhere far away on the Internet, where the conventional client can send any information in the form of files for the storage, and then have instant access to it through a computer or mobile device.

The principle of work of any cloud data storage

You’ll need to install special client software of cloud storage on all your computers or mobile devices and pick a folder on the hard disk, which should be placed in the "Cloud". This program will copy these folders and files in the cloud and will look after all changes files in these folders.

When you delete a file or change something in the monitored folder or add a new file / folder, the program automatically makes the same changes in the cloud.

Thus, when connecting to cloud storage with multiple computers or mobile devices you’ll see all your files on each of them. You can edit the file on your computer, and then open it in your laptop.

These services allow you to get easy access to the user data from your computer or mobile device, to increase the level of security of data, carry out automatic synchronization of data between different computers and devices of the user and to provide general or limited access to the files.

All procedures of reservation and preservation of data integrity are manufactured by the provider of the "cloud" center and don’t involve the user in the process.

There are two obvious reasons to use the "cloud":

• File synchronization between multiple devices
• Back up your files

How to choose the right cloud storage service?

Storage size. Here, everything is very simple – if the storage space is large then it is great. Now almost all Web services allow 10-15 GB free cloud space.

The ability to expand the size of your storage after buying extra space. It is not necessary, but it is better if this feature will be available.

Clients software for different operating systems and mobile devices. There always have to be clients for the OS (Operating System) of all your home and work computers, laptops, and other devices.

The ability to track the history of file storage. If you plan to place here important and constantly changing files, this function will help you to recover your file in case of failures in the cloud storage.

The most popular cloud storages

Dropbox - one of the pioneers of Cloud technologies. This service is safe and ideal for working with documents and files. It provides 2GB "Cloud” space.

Google Drive - one of the most popular cloud services, which allows you to not only store data in the "Cloud", but also share it with users. Each registered user gets 15 GB of free space.

OneDrive - a Cloud service from Microsoft. This service allows you to work with OneNote, PowerPoint, Excel, Word integrates with Bing, which gives the ability to save your search history. Since 2016 the service provides 5 GB of space.

iCloud Drive - «Cloud" service that stands out from the competitors with full integration with iOS and OS X. Despite the fact that the amount of free disk space is not large (only 5 GB), access to the account is possible without installing additional applications.

[Edited] Open source cloud storages
Thanks to @herzmeister, who noted that I forgot to mention open source cloud projects (I didn't know about some of them before).
I personally adore using open-source software, thus also would like to give you some refs to these open-sourced cloud projects:

• Seafile
• NextCloud
• Syncthing

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In conclusion, I would like to give you some tips on the use of Cloud storages:

Remember that the Cloud data storage is not your computer. It is placed somewhere and belongs to some organization, and may fail anytime. You should not store all your important files only there.

Don’t store your personal information in the “Cloud”. For example, your personal photos, passwords to e-mails, credit card numbers with PIN-code and so on. There are certain chances that they will be in the public domain anytime.

And another piece of advice: if you do not have enough storage space, you do not need to buy an extra space- simply start using another “Cloud”.

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With Love,
Kate